Here at Miall’s we are able to assist with deceased estate matters and offer a range of services which are listed below.
Disposal of firearm/s belonging to deceased estates:
The following are acceptable methods for disposing of firearm/s:
- Transferring ownership of the deceased's firearms to an existing licence holder.
- Selling the firearms to a licensed firearms dealer (such as Miall’s).
- Surrendering the firearms for destruction.
If firearms are found at a deceased person’s estate and they have not been passed on to anyone, or if the intended recipient does not wish to keep them.
The firearms must be disposed of within six months of the licence holder’s death and recommended to surrender the firearms for destruction.
It falls within the responsibility of the estate Executor or Administrator to ensure proper disposal of the firearms.
They must:
- Notify the Licensing and Regulation Division of any transfer within seven days of disposal via email (can be found on their website).
- Ensure the transfer is carried out through a licensed firearms dealer.
Executors or Administrators must not allow inherited firearms to be given to another person without completing the official transfer process through the permit to acquire procedure.
Storage of firearms belonging to deceased estates:
Following the death of a firearm licence holder, the Executor or Administrator of the deceased estate assumes full responsibility for decisions regarding the firearms, as well as their safekeeping and storage.
Firearms belonging to a deceased estate must be stored in compliance with legal requirements.
Storage options include:
- Leaving the firearms in the location where the deceased licence holder stored them, provided that they are inaccessible to unlicensed individuals.
- Storing the firearms yourself, provided you have suitable storage facilities.
- Arranging for another licence holder to store the firearms, provided they have appropriate storage facilities and are licensed in the same category of firearms.
- Arranging storage with a licensed firearms dealer.
Services:
The firearm/s be put into Miall’s storage. If you are actively applying for a firearms licence and collecting the appropriate legal documentation to support this.
You can transfer the firearm/s from the original owner (the deceased person) to the new owner (next of kin).
If firearms are not collected within 2 months you will be charged storage fees of $30.00 per firearm per month.
What required documentation you will need:
- A certified copy of the death certificate.
- The name and contact details of the Executor or Administrator of the estate.
- A copy of the Will confirming the Executor of the Estate. (If there is no Will, the estate is now in intestate and will require a court probate of administration naming the administrator and beneficiary) before Miall’s can assist you any further.
- The firearms licence number of the deceased (if applicable).
- Details of each firearm in the estate (including the make, model, calibre and serial number).
In failing any of these steps outlined above, you must dispose of the firearm/sin the directed appropriate manner to comply legally within Victoria.
What to do if the firearms are registered under Miall’s:
If the firearm is already registered under Miall’s already the next of kin can choose to either discontinue the payment or continue the payment.
If they choose to continue the payment, Miall's team will collect your card details and transfer the payment into their name to further process the transaction fee on the 1st of each month.
You will be required to visit the store on the day you begin your storage agreement to make an initial payment of $1 for each day remaining within that month.
Starting the following month, a recurring charge of $30 will be applied on the 1st of each month.
If firearms are not collected within 2 months you will be charged storage fees of $30.00 per firearm per month.